Silence returned, but it no longer felt empty.
Instead, it felt… respectful.
[Rank 26 Champion Defeated: Varthos the Echoless Warden]
[Shell Reverb Mastery: 99.9%]
[You have unlocked: Origin Return – Final Echo Form (Locked at 100%)]
[Level: 606 → 608]
Leon dropped to one knee, panting. His fists shook, but his eyes were steady.
Roselia and Milim appeared from the upper walkway, expressions unreadable.
Naval just stared. "He fought with nothing… and won with everything."
Leon looked at his hands.
"No rhythm? I'll be the rhythm."
Leon didn't have time to recover—not really. The moment Varthos vanished into the after-realm, the arena morphed again. Stone reshaped itself into spiraling pillars that stabbed upward like cathedral spires. The ground grew pale, marbled with silver veins. The arena had transformed into something almost divine.
The crowd above had returned, hushed in awe.
"This arena…" Roselia whispered. "It feels… holy."
A radiant gong sounded.
